Ultimate is a mighty big word, and at only 50 minutes this collection could be giving you a little more Buck for your buck.

On the other hand, these 21 tracks truly do represent Buck at his best. Each chart-topping single the late legend enjoyed is on hand here, from 1963’s “Act Naturally” to 1988’s Dwight Yoakam duet “Streets of Bakersfield” (oddly slotted first in an otherwise chronological collection). Every last one of these Bucktastic classics sounds as light and lively, as wry and rollicking, as fresh and fun, as the day it was recorded.